"Keep your hands away from the socket - we've probably all heard that before. We learn as small children that electricity can be dangerous, and that is precisely why there are certain protection classes for all electrical appliances - including lamps. But what exactly is it? What do you have to look out for? And what is the difference to the protection class? In this article, we explain all of this simply and clearly so that you know exactly what to look out for when buying your next lights."
What exactly are protection classes?
Put quite simply, a lamp protection class indicates which protective measures against electric shock are necessary. For example, whether your new lighting simply plug it into the socket or whether you need to earth it with a cable first.
However, such protection classes are not only available for lights, but are prescribed in principle for all electronic products and must therefore always be indicated on them. There are a total of four lamp protection classes, whereby class 0 is not permitted in Germany and Austria, as we require electrical appliances to meet a certain minimum standard for our safety.
The lamp protection class is often combined with the protection class but they are not the same thing. The former is in Roman numerals and, as already mentioned, indicates how a luminaire is protected against electric shocks, whereas the protection rating indicates protection against foreign bodies and water and is indicated by IP is given. There is therefore no such thing as an IP67 protection class.
What is a luminous ceiling?
Protection class I
The first protection class stands for a protective earthingwhereby all metallic and conductive housing parts of the luminaire are connected to the so-called protective conductor system of the fixed electrical installation. In the event of a faulty voltage, a fuse is activated which de-energizes the circuit so that you do not receive a shock.
This lamp protection class is then very frequently with ceiling lights which are connected to the protective conductor system via the power outlet in the ceiling.
Protection class II
In lamp protection class 2 there is a reinforced or double insulation between the mains circuit and the conductive housing of the lighting, which is usually called protective insulation. This means that a luminaire with protection class 2 is protected even if it is made of a conductive material.
A lamp with protective insulation therefore no longer needs to be connected to an additional protective conductor connection as in protection class 1. This usually applies to free-standing or table lamps towhich simply need to be plugged into the socket and they are ready for use. These lamps often have a typical Euro plug - an example of a protection class 2 plug.
Protection class III
In lamp protection class 3, there is a so-called safety extra-low voltagewhereby the lamps labeled as such are operated with a maximum voltage of 50 volts AC or 120 volts DC. As in protection class 2, they also have double insulation between the mains circuit and the output voltage.
In addition, some of these lamps in protection class 3 require a safety transformer in accordance with DIN EN 61558-2-6, which can only be dispensed with in the case of safety extra-low voltages from rechargeable batteries or batteries. A protective conductor connection is not permitted here.
Where can I find the protection class of lamps?
To find out the protection class of lamps, simply look in the skapetze® online store look at the product properties. There you will usually find the class under the technical data. If you are unable to find it, please contact our customer service.
We will always help you. If you are visiting us on site in Simbach am Inn, simply ask us directly about the protection class. Otherwise, this can also be found on the packaging and sometimes directly on the base of the lamp itself.
Which protection class for which rooms?
You cannot decide which rooms a light is ultimately suitable for based solely on the lamp protection class. For example, whether a lamp is suitable for protection class 2 bathrooms or not depends primarily on the protection class, as this area is mainly concerned with protection against water.
The same applies to the use of a luminaire outdoors, where foreign bodies such as dirt also play an increasingly important role.